Best Colleges In Nebraska

Overview

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was founded in 1869 in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nebraska is a 622-acre land-grant university, the third largest public university in Nebraska and one of the first institutions west of the Mississippi River to award doctoral degrees. Today, the university is classified by Carnegie as a “Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity” for their a solid mission for teaching and for research in the arts and sciences.

Features

University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers 150 majors for 20,182 undergraduate students. All freshmen must live on the school’s campus in downtown Lincoln. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 22-to-1. Nearly 36% the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 400 student organizations including Greek life organizations. Students look forward to cheering on their teams in the NCAA Division I conference. Top majors include:

• Business
• Engineering
• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
• Education

Notables

Nebraska, in addition to being the state’s comprehensive research university, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Their most notable alumni include: investor and philanthropist, Warren Buffett, and television talk show host, Johnny Carson.

Overview

Creighton University was founded in 1878 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Jesuit monks and Bishop James O’Connor. As early as 1892, women were welcome to attend Creighton University. Kate Drake was part of the first College of Medicine. Today, Creighton is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S with a campus of 139 acres.

Features

Creighton University offers 50 academic programs to 1,878 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 11-to-1. Nearly 49% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 200 student organizations and Greek Life. In the last year, students have donated over 1.25 million service hours. Additional past-times include cheering their NCAA Division I sport teams. 60% of the students live on campus and nearly 91% of freshmen will return for their sophomore year. Top majors include:

• Health Professions
• Business
• Biological & Biomedical Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Psychology

Notables

The university is named after Edward and Mary Lucretia Creighton, who were successful business owners and charitable community members. The Creighton’s businesses included cattle ranching, banking, freight operations and involvement in the transcontinental telegraph line. Their charity work included delivering food, money and other items to needy Omaha families. After her death in 1876, Mary left the future Creighton University $100,000 as a memorial to her late husband “to purchase the site for a school in the city of Omaha and erect buildings thereon for a school of the class and grade of a college.”

Overview

Nebraska Wesleyan University was founded in 1887 in the former town of University Place, Nebraska, by the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. Today, the university is in Lincoln, Nebraska – the Great Plains’ greatest college town. Nebraska Wesleyan University is the #1 liberal arts university in Nebraska and dedicated to academic excellence in a Wesleyan environment at both its Lincoln campus (50 acres) and Omaha site and give students fantastic access to internships and jobs in all the majors represented in the university.

Features

Nebraska Wesleyan University offers 106 majors for 1,811 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 13-to-1. Nearly 75% of the classes have less than 20 students. The average class size of 19. Outside the classroom, 70% of the student body live on campus student and have access to over 40 active student organizations and 6 Greek Life chapters. Students look forward to cheering on their NCAA Division III sports teams. Top majors include:

• Health Professions
• Business
• Education
• Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Notables

Nebraska Wesleyan University provides a continuing education program, called “Wesleyan Live”, for clergy, laity and community members. The Courses are taught in Lincoln by Nebraska Wesleyan University faculty. These live televised programs also allow participants and professors to interact throughout the telecast. United Methodist clergy can receive up to six continuing education contact hours for their participation.

Overview

Doane University was founded in 1872 in Crete, Nebraska, by the United Church of Christ. The college is named after Thomas Doane, a local chief civil engineer for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. Doane serves as the representative institution for the Nebraska, Rocky Mountain, Kansas-Oklahoma and South Dakota conferences of the UCC. Today, it is Nebraska’s oldest private college. The main campus has 300 acres in Crete, Nebraska. There are additional campuses are in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Omaha.

Features

Doane University offers 39 majors and 32 minors for 1,057 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 11-to-1. Nearly 80% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 60 student organizations, 10 Greek Life chapters. Students look forward to cheering on their NAIA athletic teams. Top majors include:

• Education
• Business
• Biological & Biomedical Sciences
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Social Sciences

Notables

Doane University program takes a family-orientated approach to academic and residential education. Students are guaranteed graduation after four years; but, they are also able to engage in a leadership development program, join an honors program that requires time studying abroad and college-sponsored trips. It is a great place to live and learn.

Overview

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) was founded in 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska by the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Omaha. The early founders wanted to create a learning environment “free from ecclesiastical control” that provided” sound learning and practical education” to anyone who sought higher education. Today, UNO is Omaha’s first and only municipal university. Even when it became a state institution in 1968, the relationship between UNO and Omaha continued to strengthen their commitment. Omaha has a population of 1.2 million within a 50-mile radius of the 683-acre campus.

Features

University of Nebraska at Omaha offers educational opportunities to 12,488 undergraduate students. It is a commuter-based institution with only 13% living in campus-sponsored residences. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 17-to-1. Nearly 40% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 120 student organizations. Students look forward to cheering on their NCAA Division I sports teams. Top majors include:

• Criminal Justice & Safety Studies
• Business
• Finance
• Education
• Psychology

Notables

University of Nebraska at Omaha combines the resources of a Carnegie Doctoral Research University with a close-knit community in a regional area with a population over 1.2 million people. Student research opportunities are actively engaged with over 200 undergraduate and graduate students presenting at research fairs and competitions. Another point of interest is that 60% of recent undergraduates reported that they graduated with either no debt or a debt less than $5,000.

Overview

The College of Saint Mary was founded in 1923 in Omaha, Nebraska, by the Sisters of Mercy on the Missouri River. The college of Saint Mary campus has 40 acres and is the only women’s college in the five-state Midwestern region. Omaha’s midtown development, Aksarben Village, just across the street from campus and provides access to new restaurants, retail stores, and a movie theatre. The campus reciprocates by offering concerts, events and art exhibits.

Features

The College of Saint Mary offers 30 majors for over 700 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 20 student organizations. Students look forward to cheering on their NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Nursing
• Rehabilitation & Therapy
• Business
• Education
• Linguistics, interpretation and translation

Notables

The Sisters of Mercy was founded by Catherine McAuley, a 19th century Irish Catholic who used her inheritance to open the first House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland on September 24, 1827, to shelter and educate women and girls. While her original intention was to create a Catholic lay corps of social workers, the Archbishop of Dublin advised her to establish a religious congregation. In the next 10 years, she and the sisters established 14 independent foundations in Ireland and England. After her death, the Sisters of Mercy began founding a long line of women’s secondary and post-secondary schools around the globe. Today, at the College of Saint Mary, the tradition continues with annual trips so that students learn while serving.

Overview

Bellevue University was founded on a 46-acre main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska in 1966 by Bill Brooks and the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. Today, the university offers classes at their main Campus in Bellevue and other sites in Broken Bow, Grand Island, Lincoln, Lozier Prof. Ctr. in West, Omaha, McCook, Norfolk, North Platte, and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Scottsbluff, Iowa; and Sioux City, South Dakota and online. They also have a proud partnership with area community colleges as well to assist student achieve a bachelor degree in their chosen field.

Features

Bellevue University offers over 80 degrees and certificates in high-growth career fields to over 5,400 undergraduate students at the main campus and online. It is a commuter campus with a student-faculty ratio is 32-to-1. Nearly 60% the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 40 student organizations and cheer for their NAIA sports teams. Top majors include:

• Business
• Social Sciences
• Health & Medical Administrative Services
• Computer & Information Sciences
• Project Management

Notables

Bellevue University Bellevue University is ranked No. 92 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. However, if you choose to be onsite at Bellevue University, there are only 100 days of cloudy precipitation – the rest are sunny! The average temperature in the area in January is 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 84 degrees Fahrenheit in September.

Overview

The University of Nebraska at Kearney was founded in 1903 in Kearney, Nebrasaka, by the Nebraska State Legislature and the State Board of Education as a teacher training school. It gained university status in 1991. Today, the University of Nebraska – Kearney’s 235-acre campus is about 150 miles west of Lincoln and ranked as one of the 2017 Best Colleges in the region.

Features

University of Nebraska at Kearney offers over 40 majors for 5,108 undergraduate students. 90% of freshmen, 35% of all students live on campus. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1. Nearly 48% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 30 student organizations. Athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division II conference. Top majors include:

• Business
• Education
• Operations Management & Supervision
• Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
• Psychology

Notables

The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers students the option of a double major, Honors program, Independent study, and Teacher certification programs. Students are encouraged to participate in the co-op program or finish an Internship as part of their degree experience. Here at the Kearney campus, students can succeed.

Overview

Wayne State College was founded in 1891 by James Pile, a math professor from Freemont, and the citizens of the town of Wayne, Nebraska. Two decades later, the state purchased the college and added to its Nebraska Educational System. Today, Wayne State College serves a 46-county area with students coming to learn even from Iowa.

Features

Wayne State College offers 90 majors for 3,361 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 18-to-1. Outside the classroom, students have access to over 100 student organizations. Athlete teams participate in the NCAA Division II conference. Top majors include:

• Business Administration
• Education
• Pre-Professional (medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, etc.)
• Criminal Justice
• Industrial Technology

Notables

The main research and study hub at Wayne State College is the Conn Library. The library has a valuable collection of books, periodicals and access to high-speed internet connections. It also has plenty of comfortable furniture and is the home of the Jitters Coffee shop. All WSC residence halls and most WSC administration buildings provide wireless service. The academic buildings contain at least one smart classroom, or technology enhanced classrooms, that integrates networking, digital and audio visual technologies.

Overview

Concordia University, Nebraska was founded in 1894 by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia University. The main campus is in Seward, Nebraska – the #1 town for the lowest crime rate. Seward, Nebraska has a population 7,000 and is located about 25 minutes from Lincoln, Nebraska, and 75 minutes from Omaha. The main campus has 120 acres. An additional campus is located in In Lincoln, Nebraska, serving as the graduate campus for face-to-face and online degrees. Concordia is the 23rd most affordable private institution in the country, according to MONEY magazine.

Features

Concordia University, Nebraska offers 75 majors for 2,600 undergraduate students. Inside the classroom, the student-faculty ratio is 14-to-1. Nearly 51% of the classes have less than 20 students. Outside the classroom, 67% of undergraduate students lived on campus. However, all students have access to over 40 student organizations and cheering on their NAIA sport teams. Top majors include:

• Education
• Business
• Biological & Biomedical Sciences
• Psychology
• Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Notables

Concordia University, Nebraska was the first LCMS school to admit females. However, the accepted females had to follow some strict guidelines. In 1919, the female students were not allowed to live or eat on campus. When they did add female dorms, women were prohibited from wearing slacks or doing their boyfriend’s laundry. While that is not the case today, students still laugh about these strange historical traditions like building a manure spreader in the Weller Hall lobby or a Volkswagen Beetle in the dining hall. Find out more unique features of Concordia during your visit on campus.